Billy Jones and Ashley Westwood are not the first Premier League success stories to emerge from Crewe Alexandra’s thriving youth set-up.

It’s fair to say that they almost certainly won’t be the last either.

But at present the Albion and Villa duo are the two standout players that are keeping the Gresty Road tradition ticking along nicely.

Over the years players such as Dean Ashton, Rob Jones, Seth Johnson, Danny Murphy and David Vaughan have all become full internationals since leaving the Crewe academy.

Then there’s the likes of David Platt, Geoff Thomas, Robbie Savage and Neil Lennon who were all signed as young boys before moving onto bigger and better things.

Albion full-back Jones, and Villa midfielder Westwood took the first steps on their ever-improving careers with the Railwaymen and are both now fully fledged top-flight stars.

And the Baggies man revealed just why he turned down other advances to stick with the club that has become famous for producing an almost endless bounty of young talent under the guidance of club guru Dario Gradi.

“One of the reasons why you stay loyal to Crewe is because of their history,” said Jones, who joined them at the age of ten and subsequently spurned many offers to go elsewhere.

“I had chances to move on,” he revealed. “So did other lads who had offers from Premier League clubs to do their Youth Training Schemes and so on.

“But the appeal with Crewe was that you believed that if you stayed there you would play first-team football early, which is great because it’s better than reserve football.

Ashley Westwood

“But not only that, you also knew that with the reputation they had people would come and look at you and you would be in the limelight.

“I knew that, if I performed well enough, other teams would be willing to take a chance on me if the price was right – and a lot of the other lads knew that too.

“That was always the appeal with Crewe – there was a long list of former players who had moved on to bigger and better things.

“There was Danny Murphy and Seth Johnson, and then Dean Ashton was just in the team and getting a bit of attention.

“Every young lad at Crewe stays loyal to the club because they know if they get their chance in the first-team, play well enough and the price is right, they will get the chance to move on.

“I was quite lucky to get in there really.

“Coaches from Shrewsbury (Jones’ home town) were saying to me, ‘If you have got the chance to go there, go and it will be a great move for you to develop’.

“It was a bit of a small world really because my Dad was friends with an ex-Shrewsbury player called Dave Walton who also went to Crewe.

“He threw my name in there to a scout and that was it, it went from there. I think he’s still expecting a cut!”

Twenty five-year-old Jones made his Alex debut aged just 16 and learned his trade at Gresty Road before earning a move to Preston when he was 21.

He hit the jackpot with a move to The Hawthorns in 2011 and it wasn’t too long before Westwood became the next Crewe man to graduate to the top flight when he was signed by neighbours Villa before the start of this season.

And Jones admits it was good to see that the tradition was being carried on.

He remembers the hype surrounding the former railwaymen captain, who is three years his junior, when he was playing for the first team and was quick to congratulate his old team-mate when he moved to Villa Park.

Westwood has even been likened to Manchester United great Paul Scholes by boss Paul Lambert – a real testament to his 15-year education at Crewe.

“I know Westy from my time there,” added Jones. “It was always a case of guessing who was going to be the next player coming through.

“When I was playing there, you’re not quite looking over your shoulder, but you get whispers of who is the next one to look out for.

“I was told about Westy being a good player so it is great that he has gone on and got his Premier League move. Not only that, he’s playing as well, so it is great for him.

“There are a lot of lads who were around when I broke into the Crewe team that I still talk to.

“David Vaughan at Sunderland was in the team with me, and some of the younger lads coming through. With Westy being at Villa I get to see him every now and then to speak to.”

And Jones is convinced there is still more to come from the Gresty Road production line.

“I’m sure in a year’s time we’ll be having the same conversation about someone else,” he went on. “I’m pretty certain of that.

“I know the lad who played in midfield with Ashley, who I still speak to a little bit now, has been linked with a couple of clubs.

“Luke Murphy is his name. Hopefully, fingers crossed, he can get that move and go onto Premier League football as well. It’s remarkable how they still keep on producing.

“I could understand, when I was coming through, about the appeal of playing Championship football at such a young age.

“But they were still producing and still managing to keep the young players even when they were in League Two. It’s a credit to the club.

“The most recent one is Nick Powell who has moved to Manchester United. He moved from a League Two team that was just promoted.

“It’s a great credit to them that they can fight off the interest. I’m sure all these clubs are looking and wanting to sign the likes of Nick Powell and other lads at the age of 14 or 15.

“Everton and Manchester United are in that catchment region so it’s great credit to them that they can keep these players, give them their first team chance and then sell them on to bigger and better things.”

You get a feel of the pride and passion at Crewe during a quick walk around their training complex.

Pictures of former stars are all over the walls and there’s even a ‘millionaires row’ featuring players who have commanded seven-figure transfer fees since leaving.

Westwood is the latest addition – and surely won’t be the last.

Other players who have gone on to big things since leaving Crewe.

* Danny Murphy: Progressed through the Crewe academy before moving to Liverpool where he won the treble (FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup) in 2001 and won nine England caps. Also played for Charlton, Tottenham and Fulham in the top flight and is now plying his trade at Blackburn Rovers.

* Seth Johnson: Moved from Crewe to Derby for £3 million then earned a big-money move to Leeds United. Promising midfielder whose career was thwarted by injuries but still managed to win one England cap.

* Dean Ashton: Prolific goalscorer for both Crewe and Norwich City but had to retire aged 26 due to a long-term ankle injury sustained on England duty.

* David Vaughan: Welsh international who left Crewe for Real Sociedad before returning to England with Blackpool. Currently a first-team regular at martin O’Neill’s Sunderland.

* Neil Lennon: The former Northern Ireland international Joined Crewe from Manchester City as a teenager before moving on to enjoy a trophy-laden playing career with Leicester City and Celtic. Now manager of the Glasgow giants.

* Robbie Savage: Left Manchester United aged 20 and kick-started his career at Crewe before making a name for himself at Leicester City, Birmingham City and Blackburn. A high-profile and sometimes controversial footballer who is now a pundit.

* David Platt: An England great who made his name at Villa after coming through the Crewe ranks. Won the UEFA Cup with Juventus and the Premier League and FA Cup double with Arsenal. More than £20 million was spent on the midfielder in transfer fees. Now Roberto Mancini’s No.2 at Manchester City.

* Geoff Thomas: Became a fans favourite at Crystal Palace after leaving Crewe. Played in an FA Cup final and the midfielder was a crucial player in the Eagles’ third-place top-flight finish in 1991, Also had a spell at Wolves.

* Craig Hignett: Enjoyed a successful career with Middlesborough where he was a losing finalist in both the FA Cup and League Cup. Won the League Cup with Blackburn in 2002. Scored over 100 career goals.

* Rob Hulse: Won promotion to the Premier League with three different clubs including West Brom and has scored more than 100 league goals.